Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left and right knee disabilities, and residual scar from inguinal hernia repair due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the current assigned ratings are appropriate.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including colon cancer, thyroid condition, lung condition, prostate condition, skin condition, and left foot disability, all related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities due to incomplete STRs and inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, left foot disability, left ankle disability, and leg length discrepancy as the evidence did not show a current diagnosed disability or establish a nexus to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for sleep apnea due to the appellant's representative withdrawing the issue at a hearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pes planus, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, and sinusitis due to insufficient detail in the previous VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The appeal for service connection of mixed anxiety with depressive disorder was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain and lumbar strain have been granted earlier effective dates of July 9, 2010.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability has been granted. The Board finds the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left shoulder rotator cuff issues and degenerative joint disease are due to repetitive-use injuries during active service.,The Veteran's service-connected right hip, right thigh, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities have been remanded for clarification of the July 2021 private opinion regarding obesity as an intermediate step. The examiner must provide a rationale addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, and if so, whether the obesity was a substantial factor in causing the claimed bilateral ankle, right hip, or right thigh conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected left hand disability has been remanded for an opinion on secondary service connection. The examiner must address both causation and aggravation to be deemed adequate. If aggravation is found, the examiner should attempt to quantify the degree of additional disability resulting from the aggravation.

The Veteran's right little finger disability is granted service connection as it is presumed to have occurred during his military service. The low back and neck disabilities are denied as there is no evidence they began during or were caused by his military service. The foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) is also denied, with the examiner concluding it is more likely due to advancing age rather than being aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure to ensure VA satisfied its duty to assist with respect to the Veteran's request for a VA medical examiner's qualifications.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left leg disability, but remanded the issue of initial rating for left foot pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for PTSD and persistent depressive disorder has been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, right ankle disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claim for psoriasis and remanded issues regarding whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for plantar keratoderma (claimed as infection on feet) and entitlement to service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's combined schedular evaluation for compensation was 80 percent prior to June 12, 2019, and 90 percent thereafter. The Board finds that remand is warranted for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral foot, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence supporting a causal relationship between these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disability, including gout, needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability, finding no credible evidence of an in-service injury or event that led to the current condition.